Community Engagement

Rural Brain Health Fellowship

Advanced Practice Nurse Rural Brain Health Fellowship

As the population ages, an unprecedented number of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders will require complex medical management. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, currently affects more than 6 million Americans and is projected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060 in the absence of medical interventions to prevent, slow or cure the disease. The KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), one of 37 nationally designated research centers in the United States, has driven dramatic growth in research, education and clinical care in the Kansas City region. Nonetheless, a national shortage of well-trained clinicians both in primary practice and specialties remains.

The KU ADRC is urgently growing our training programs to develop the next generation of clinicians to care for the growing burden of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders in an aging population. Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play a critical role on the front lines in diagnosing and treating these neurodegenerative diseases.

Apply For the Fellowship

Goal

Educate and train advance practice providers in the diagnosis and treatment of dementia to meet the growing needs of this vulnerable population both at KUMC and the greater Midwest region.

Mission

Educate and support newly graduated, and experienced NPs with limited dementia care experience to be able to meet the diverse needs of this growing and vulnerable population.

About the Program

The program will provide NPs with nine months of intensive training in the clinical skills needed to optimally diagnose and treat individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Fellows will provide care along with physicians and NP mentors. In addition, fellows will participate in a variety of observational and learning opportunities including current treatments, neuropsychology, neuroimaging, biomarkers, social work support, end of life care planning and research.

Program Oversight

Program Directors: Anne Arthur, APRN, and Lindsey Gillen, APRN

Eligibility

New graduates & experienced NPs are encouraged to apply.
Have graduated from an accredited nurse practitioner (NP) program.
Board certified as an NP (or board certification pending for recent graduates.)
Licensed as an NP.
Have a DEA number.

Didactics

Didactics during the fellowship include:

Neurology/Neurosurgery Grand Rounds
Pocket talks
Memory Clinic Case Conferences
Neuropathology Case Conferences
Science Showcase
Weekly meetings with Dr. Townley

Quality Improvement Project

Fellows will complete a quality improvement project during the last three months of the fellowship. The project will be geared toward improving a process in the clinic.

Program Rotations

Fellows will complete clinical rotations in the following areas:

Memory Care Clinic
Geriatrics Clinic (Dr. Stand)
Parkinson’s Clinic (Dr. Au)
Psychiatry Clinic (Dr. Angela Mayorga-May)
Neuropsychology Clinic (Adam Parks)
Inpatient Geripsychiatric Unit (Exec Dir—Strawberry Hill)
Long Term Care/Rehabilitation (Coffey) Research Palliative Care/Hospice (Porter-Williamson) Radiology (McDonald)

Additionally, fellows will receive training and observations in:

Current treatments (oral medications and Infusions)
MRI- review clinical indications and interpretation
PET- review clinical indications and basic interpretation
LP’s-review clinical indications and interpretation
Lee Silverman Voice Technique (LSVT) outpatient program for PD--KUMC
Genetic testing and counseling
Social Work support (Cognitive Care Network)
Support groups
Neuropsychological testing (Parks)
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy (Jamie Johnson)
Driving Evaluation (Audrey Imhoff)
Advanced Care Planning/End of Life
TPOPP, DPOA- Center for practical bioethic

Responsibilities

Fellow clinical responsibilities will include:

Gathering a comprehensive patient history
Completing a comprehensive physical examination
Completing a comprehensive neurological examination
Ordering and analyzing diagnostic studies
Formulating and implementing treatment plans
Evaluating response to treatment
Coordinating patient care
Actively participating within the interdisciplinary healthcare team
Participating in the implementation of patient education and clinical support programs to ensure optimal care throughout the healthcare continuum

Schedule

Precepted clinics: Start with a small caseload and work up to a full-time caseload by the end of the fellowship (2 days/week)
Mentored Clinics: See patients with a preceptor (1 day/week)
Specialty Clinics: See patients in clinic of interest (1 day/week)
Didactics: Telehealth, clinic issues, leadership, business QI project, time to ask questions (1 day/week) Length of Program The fellowship will last 9 months. Evaluations Each rotation will have goals and objectives followed by an evaluation. The program director will meet with the fellow to review evaluations, clinical progress, and career planning on a monthly basis.

Program Benefits

Salary: $45,000 over 9 months
Laptop provided
Relevant textbooks

Application Process

Applications open soon. Monitor this page for future instructions.
Include current curriculum vitae or resume.
Personal statement (1 page, 11 pt Arial font, single spaced, 0.5 margins) The personal statement offers you an opportunity to discuss the talents, experiences and goals that qualify you as a unique APRN Brain Health Fellowship candidate. We are seeking evidence of your interest in caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders and your plans after completion of the fellowship.
board certified as an NP or PA (or board certification pending for recent graduates)
Licensed as an NP in Kansas
Have a DEA number
Two letters of recommendation (emailed to aarthur@kumc.edu) from each of the following:
- Peer/Colleague
- Current or prior work supervisor in APRN role (or clinical instructor, faculty, program director, or preceptor for new graduates)